1. Talking through hat
Meaning – To say foolish things; to talk nonsense
Usage – Don't pay attention to him, he's just talking through his hat again.
2. Looking forward to
Meaning – To excitedly anticipate something
Usage – I'm looking forward to visiting my family this Christmas
3. Slip off
Meaning – To escape or depart for some location quietly or in secret
Usage – We decided to skip the meeting and slipped off to the movies instead.
4. Get on well
Meaning – Have a friendly relationship
Usage – They must get on well with me.
5. In a pickle
Meaning – In a troublesome or difficult situation
Usage – We're in a pretty pickle now because the hotel gave our room away.
6. Under a cloud
Meaning – Viewed with distrust and/or thought to be dishonorable
Usage – The victim's husband is under a cloud of suspicion until he is interrogated.
7. As hard as nails
Meaning – Physically or mentally tough
Usage – The racers are as hard as nails!
8. Allow a free hand
Meaning – Complete liberty
Usage – He gave Stephanie a free hand in the decoration.
9. Lay (oneself) out
Meaning – To put in a great deal of effort; to inconvenience oneself or go through a lot of trouble
Usage – I don't know why I always lay myself out to impress your parents—they never appreciate what I do anyway.
10. Break down
Meaning – To lose control of one's emotions, often sadness
Usage – My mother seemed fine this morning, but she completely broke down at the funeral and cried through the whole thing.
11. Cut coat according to one’s cloth
Meaning – To shop or act in accordance with one's financial limitations
Usage – You'll go bankrupt unless you start cutting your coat according to your cloth.
12. Weal and woe
Meaning – Ups and downs
Usage – We all get our share of weal and woe in life.
13. Iron will
Meaning – Strong determination
Usage – He had an iron will to fight cancer.
14. To take to task
Meaning – Punish
Usage – The shouting child was taken to task by the teacher.
15. Rack and ruin
Meaning – Utter destruction or ruination
Usage – The rack and ruin of my grandfather's estate pains me greatly.
Verifying, please be patient.